Jonathan's Musings

Tito hints at huge hike
- IOL

No more, Tito! No more!

South Africans (and indeed the world) are reeling in the face of economic hardship and I agree with Oelschig that raising interest rates will only worsen the situation and not improve it!

Tito (and the monetary policy committee) are looking at the picture in South Africa without taking into account the bigger picture of world economics.

I truly doubt that anything, anyone does will overly change their minds, but I hope to God that the rate only goes up by a max of 100 basis points!

Smokers face jail threat in Zambia
- M&G Online

Jeez! I wish our government (and associated laws) were as progressive!

Public smoking really bothers me! Just the other night I was at a popular restaurant which runs a quiz nite. I have been going there for ages and, every now and again there are a few guys who smoke inside, but it is not enough that it really bothers anyone. Most people are considerate enough to go outside or to sit in a designated smoking area.

On this particular night though, it seemed like every 4^th person in the place was smoking in both smoking and non-smoking areas! Ventilation was extremely bad (everything was closed as it was cold) and the situation was further exaggerated by the fact that there was this pseudo-undercover, mobile-vending team there who were selling cigarettes from handbags!

It created a terrible passive smoking environment, so much so, that I had to go outside for fresh air quite frequently and absolutely reeked of smoke when I got home! Not to mention that I had to shower again to get the smell out of my hair and had to dump my clothes outside my room so that they wouldn't stink the place out.

It really was a most unpleasant experience and while I think smoking in general is very inconsiderate of your fellow man, I hold the restaurant responsible as they have signs clearly stating that no smoking is allowed inside, but don't bother to enforce it! I have raised this with the manager so I hope the situation improves next week.

If not, we'll have to see what the local police have to say about the situation...

Mbeki off to Asia amid opposition outcry
- IOL

I have been saying for a number of years now, that Thabo Mbeki is a "cancer of this country". An impotent politician who is the silent killer of South Africa.

He's not an in-your-face militant or racist dictator like some of his African brethren, but nonetheless, he is these things, just in a more sinister, under-handed way.

In a way, I'm glad that he and his government are failing to respond to problems such as this xenophobic violence, as at least it serves to show to more South Africans, just how poisonous Mbeki and his ANC government are for this country.

I can only hope that his many failings will be remembered come voting time. I have no disillusions that their will be any other ruling party than the ANC for the foreseeable future, but I think that even a man as despicable as Jacob Zuma is a better choice for president than Thabo Mbeki.

Mbeki has failed on every major challenge that has faced his administration. Mbeki has failed every South African (and every person in South Africa) dismally, and I hope, that when his time is up, he will be remembered with disgust and disdain...

http://www.wecansolveit.org/page/invite/taxtaf
- We Campaign

Support the campaign. It really is the least that one can do to help save the planet.

Alex's streets run with blood
- IOL

This story sent shivers down my spine! Can you imagine the pure terror of being a Zimbabwean in Alexandra at the moment!!

Whether you are there illegally or not, no one deserves to die at the hands of a mob!

"The IQ of a mob is inversely proportional to the square of its size"
ie. The bigger the mod, the more stupid, violent and brazen it is.

I pray for speedy resolution to these xenophobic attacks! Godspeed to the police, reservists and medical officers in the area.

'I knew I'd lost my family,' says Burma fisherman
- M&G Online

Everytime I think that life has dealt me a blow, I try to remember that there are many, many people in the world far less fortunate that me.

Like the Tsunami, this will serve as a harrowing reminder of how bad things can truly get!

I cannot begin to imagine the sheer pain and anguish of people such as this in Mynamar/Burma at the moment! It is truly heart-renching :-(

And even more sad that their stupid military junta is delaying aid to the country...

Thieves hit Mbeki's residence
- M&G Online

Ha Ha! Even the president isn't immune to crime in South Africa ;-)

This isn't quite the level of (often violent) crime that the rest of South Africans are subject to on a daily basis, but maybe it might drive home to our wayward, useless, excuse of a president that there is indeed a crime problem and something needs to start being done about it!

This is actually an interesting approach...

I wonder if he would wake up and smell the crime statistics if he were hijacked or held up at gun point at his favourite restaurant...